The following message was received by me on May 30; it was also sent to the rest of the consolidated Metro District Board:
From:"Melanie Goeson" <mgoeson@hotmail.com>
[Add to Address Book]
To:nadamson@highlandsranch.org, garydani@higlandsranch.org, garyherbella@highlandsranch.org, rickowens@highlandsranch.org, ryanstuart@highlandsranch.org
CC:allendreher@highlandsranch.org, nancyjensen@highlandsranch.org, nancysmith@highlandsranch.org
Subject:[NEWSENDER] - Ranger Tony Keith - Message is from an unknown sender
Date:Wednesday, May 30, 2007 6:32:34 PM
[View Source]
Mr. Adamson:
I have yet again been harrassed by one of your rangers. Tonight is was Tony
Keith. I was at the open space on Merimbula in Highlands Ranch, which is
around the block from where I live. I was throwing training bumpers for my
labrador retriever who is a master hunting retriever and well trained. We
were in an isolated location with noone in our general vicinity. I was also
throwing the bumpers in the direction of the ravine. While my isolation was
obvious to Mr. Keith, as well as my dog being under control, he still felt
compelled to drive all the way across the open space from the other side,
get out of his truck, walk to where I was located and proceed to hassle me
about leash laws. Mr. Keith also mentioned the complaints regarding small
dogs. My dog, as I mentioned, is a black lab, and is not often confused
with a Chihuahua or a ****zu! How this little detail eluded Mr. Keith is a
mystery to me. Let's discuss the laws for a moment shall we. There are
jaywalking laws that are broken daily, but it's doubful that people are
hassled about it. Stealing is a crime too, but I'll bet you have a few pens
and other office supplies that have made it to your house in error. It's
doubtful you'll be given a warning or arrested. Alcohol in the parks
doesn't cause too much concern either. My point is the rangers in
Highlands Ranch need to think outside the box. They need to take a measure
of the situation and decide if there's a problem or even the likelihood of a
problem developing. A little thinking goes a long way. Recognizing that
every situation is not the same and does not need to be treated the same way
will add value to their jobs. I take care of my property. I pay my HOA
fees on time. I have lived in Highlands Ranch for many years. I don't wish
to be hassled further. I have sent this email to the Board of Directors and
will be forwarding it to the Advisory Board as well. It is my hope that at
least a few among the group will see my point of view and will do something
about the situation. Thank you.
Melanie Goeson
9815 Sydney Lane
Highlands Ranch, CO 80130
303-808-1281
I understand and sympathize with Ms. Goeson's view that she is being "harrassed" when she is approached about the leash law, but I have some questions and concerns about her description of the incident. I'm not familiar with the open space in question. However, from her description of it as containing a ravine, I wonder if it is part of a drainage area/wildlife corridor? If so, I generally feel that even the best-trained dog should not be running free in such an area. Just a little slip in his training may create a situation described by the Colorado Statute forbidding "harrassment of wildlife" which is at least part of the basis of The District's leash law.
I also wonder whether such a training activity could take place in one of the off-leash dog parks. There is such a facility at Dad Clark Park, and--because it's not easily accessed by car--there are very few users of it at any one time. When our dog was alive, we found the off-leash parks great for socialization--not just among the dogs, but among the dog-owners who went there.
Any open discussion about dogs in Highlands Ranch quickly reveals a wide spread of opinion, from people who love them to people who are highly afraid of them--no matter their size, disposition, etc. The Park Rangers are charged with trying to balance the needs and wishes of all those people. It is possible that the ranger was called by someone near the open space who objected to the training exercise Ms. Goeson was conducting. The off-leash parks (including the one at Chatfield State Park which includes woods, streams, and ponds) are part of the attempt to answer the needs of dog-owners and non-dog-people.
Nancy Jensen
|
Melanie Goeson Complaint
Posted - 05/30/2007 : 7:14:43 PM
